ISM SERVICES BEATS, HIRING ACCELERATES

The Institute for Supply Management's monthly survey
of services-sector firms is out.

The report's headline index rose to 54.0 from December's
53.0 reading. Economists were looking for a smaller advance to
53.7.

The all-important employment sub-component advanced to 56.4
from 55.6.

The figures suggest that overall business activity in
America's services sector — which accounts for roughly 80% of the
economy — accelerated more than expected in January, as did
hiring in the sector.

The acceleration in hiring augurs well for Friday's release of
the official jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics.